Amusement rides



D. W. PRICE AMUSEMENT RIDES Feb. 6, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 INVENTOR.

Jae/v5 PRICE $05 A7'7'0fiA/EY6 0m M 1 E V. x B 7 .0 3 n 4 3 B E 7 3 w I 4F w m 6 v mm M w a j 4 q A D. W. PRICE AMUSEMENT RIDES Feb. 6, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1960 muuaom W l 0k kmt 304m INVENTOR. u m/ W P/QICE ///.5' Arm/5 NEYS Feb. 6, 1962 D. w. PRICE 3,019,740

AMUSEMENT RIDES Filed Dec. 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (42 23 :hihn

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Unite 3,019,740 AMUSEMENT RIDE Duane W. Price, 2601 Midvale, West Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Dec. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 73,035 9 Claims. (El. 104r51) This invention relates to amusement rides especially for, although not limited to, use by children of various ages. More particularly, the invention is in a traveling hobby horse and has as a principal object the provision of maneuvering a hobby horse, carriage or other bodysupporting member over a predetermined area in a given path, at the termini of which the horse is caused to position itself in a position for return travel along such path, thus providing within a minimum space a continuous ride for a predetermined period of time.

It is the ultimate aim of this invention to accomplish the several objects of the invention by a structure which is sturdy, comprising a minimum number of parts, resulting in effective operation at a minimum cost or manufacture and which structure will assure the maximum degree of safety.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective arrangement for controlling the speed of rotation of the hobby horse about a vertical axis to a position for return travel along a predetermined path. Such arrangement results in a safe movement of the horse to the consequent comfort and safety of the rider, without imposing any undue wear upon the operating parts of the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a simple and novel arrangement of a single pivot serving the two-fold function of releasing the hobby horse supporting platform for rotation to a position for return travel along a predetermined path and that of blocking rotation of such base beyond such position.

Another and equally important object of the invention is. the. provision of a hobby horse which will give the maxi-mum degree of amusement and safety.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

MG. 2 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 2'--2 of FIG. 1;

FlG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the parts thereof in different positions;

minus of a guiding slot embodied. in the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 8--8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a dolly embodied in the invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view taken substantially on line ill-10 of BIG. 2; 7 FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a. suggested electric circuit for the motor embodied in the invention.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over that shown and described in my prior application filed on March 24, 1960 and bearing Serial No. 17,301.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the ter The several objects of my present invention are preferably accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

in this connection I provide a substantially flat, elongated platform in. The length of such platform may vary according to requirements and may be formed of such material as will best serve the purpose. In the present instance, the platform includes a top wall 11 providing a riding surface, and depending side walls 12, the latter supporting the platform in spaced relation to the surface on which it is mounted. The top wall may be reinforced by elongated ribs or strips 13 either formed as an integral part of the top wall 11 or connected thereto. There is secured to the side Walls 12 a bottom wall 14 (FIG. 3) which may be formed of such material as will best serve the purpose. Such bottom wall together with the top wall provides a space 15 for certain working parts of the apparatus hereinafter described.

Formed in the top wall 11 is an elongated slot 16, the long sides of which are lined by bezel strips 16'. At each terminus of the slot 16 there is positioned a cam plate 17. The plate 17 is preferably of elongated formation having an end portion 18 secured as at 19 to the top wall 11. The intermediate portion 20 of the plate 17 is inclined downwardly through the slot 16 and terminates into a horizontal step portion 21.

The hobby horse is indicated at 22 and is supported above a base 23 by a pedestal 24. For amusement purposes this horse 22 is intended to have rocking movement relative to the pedestal 24 so as to simulate either a galloping or trotting motion. The mechanism for producing such movement has not been disclosed as it in itself constitutes no part of the present invention. Any desired mechanism for such purpose may be employed, such, for example, that shown in Patent No. 2,634,975, dated April 14, 1953.

Mounted on the base 23 is a motor 25 which is preferably of a two-speed type. The armature: 26 of the motor has connection with a gear train 27, the gear train being a part of the mechanism. Extending from the gear train 27 is a shaft 28. Mounted on this shaft at one end thereof is a sprocket gear 29 having engagement with a sprocket chain 30. The sprocket chain 39 also has engagement with a sprocket gear 31 mounted on a shaft 32 journalled in suitable bearings 33 connected as at 34 to the base 23.

Mounted on the shaft 32 is a traction wheel 35 which operates through a slot 36 formed in the base 23. The traction Wheel 35 engages the riding surface of the top wall 11 and cooperates with swivel rollers 37 connected to the underside of the base 23 and engaging the top wall 11, to support the base 23 and the hobby horse carried thereby for movement relative to the top Wall 11.

A suitable power circuit is provided for the motor 25 and as a part of such circuitry are a plurality of conductor rings 38 carried by a non-conductive sleeve 39. The rings 38 engage brushes 49 supported by the base 23 as at 41. These brushes are a part of the electric circuit for the motor, which circuit also includes a normally closed switch 42 carried by the base 23 and which switch controls the variable speed circuit of the motor; that is to say, when the switch 42 is open the motor operates at slow speed and when the switch 42 is closed the motor operates at a high speed. The electriccircuit for the motor may vary as long as its operates the motor at at least two different speeds. I

The sleeve 39 is mounted on a hollow shaft 43 which extendsthrough the slot 16 upwardly through the base 23 and is formed as an integral part of a dolly 44.

The dolly 44 preferably provides a top wall 46 and depending opposite parallelly extending side walls 47.

On the top wall 46 of the dolly 44 are spaced rollers 48 which operate in the slot 15 and serve to stabilize the dolly 44 during its movement longitudinally of the slot 16. The side walls 47 carry rollers 49 which engage the under surface of the wall 11 for the purpose of reducing friction to a minimum. On the shaft 43 is a fixed ring 51) spaced from a ring 51 carried by the sleeve 39. Disposed between the rings Sil and '51 and embracing the shaft 43 is an expansion spring 52 of sulficient strength to maintain the rollers 49 of the dolly in rolling engagement with respect to the bottom surface of the wall 11 with the minimum degree of friction.

Secured to the dolly 44 by means of a suitable clamp 53 is one end portion 54 of a flexible coil-like tubing 55 through which an electric cable 56 extends, one end '57 of which passes upwardly through the shaft 43 to a position where it is exposed for connecting to the circuit of the motor 25. The opposite end of the tubing 55 is connected by means of a suitable clamp 58 to an element of the platform 10, such for example, one of the reinforcing strips 13. The end 59 of the electric cable 56 leads to a suitable power source (not shown). The tubing 55 is of such construction as will permit it to readily flex and follow the movement or" the dolly toward the opposite end portions of the slot 16, while maintaining an untwisted condition. In this manner, a simple and inexpensive arrangement is provided for supplying operating power to the motor 25 without the employment of bus bars and brushes.

Carried by the base 23 for movement in a vertical plane is a plunger 60. The plunger 6% is freely movable through oppositely disposed bosses 61 preferably though not necessarily formed as an integral part of the base 23.

Secured to the upper end of the plunger 66 by means of a threaded bolt 62 is a non-conductive disc 63 which, when in the position shown in FIG. 4, engages and maintains the switch 42 in closed position, at which time the motor is operating at its fast speed.

The lower end portion of the plunger 66 carries a roller 64 positioned within the slot 16 and serves to reduce frictional contact in the event that the base 23 moves laterally from its path of travel. Between the roller 64 and adjacent boss 61 and embracing the plunger 60 is an expansion spring 66 which retains the plunger 69 in the position shown in FIG. 4, with the disc 63 holding the switch 42 closed.

When the end 65 of the plunger on approaches the end of the slot 16, it will engage the step 21 and by such step be guided to a position to ride upon the inclined portion 20 to the upper end portion 18 of the cam plate 17 and thence onto the top surface of the wall 11 of the platform 10. This operation results in removing the "plunger 60 from within the slot 16, to free the base 23 for rotation about the shaft 43, which serves as a pivot for such purpose, to a position for return travel. At the time that the shaft 43 is moved upwardly the disc 63 is moved away from the switch 42 to open the switch 42 so that the motor 25 will be reduced from fast to slow speed during rotating movement of the base 23. The speed of the motor will be predetermined and will depend upon the speed desired.

After the base 23 has completed its rotation, the plunger 60 with its roller 64, under action of the spring 60', will again drop into the slot 16 at the point where the base 23 is to begin its return movement relative to the platform 10. In this latter position of the plunger 6% and its roller 64 it serves the added function of blocking further rotation of the base 23 beyond the position where it is to begin its return travel. This is accomplished by the re-engagement of the plunger 60 and its roller 66 in the slot 16. The path of travel taken by the plunger 60 during the rotation of the base 23 is schematically indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1.

As an added feature of my invention is the novel arrangement for absorbing any impact which might be transmitted to the pivot of the base and to the platform by the base 23 when reaching its position of return movement. This arrangement includes a bar 66 which is slidably supported against the bottom side of the platform 10 by fixed brackets 67. The inner end of the bar 66 has a depending flange 68 disposed in the path of travel of the dolly 44. The outer end portion of the bar 66 likewise has a depending fiange 7t). Secured to the bottom side of the platform 16 is a U-shaped bracket 71 through which the bar 66 is slidably movable. Secured to the flange 7% is one end portion of a spring 72, the opposite end portion of which spring is connected to the bracket 71.

As the base 23 with the hobby horse mounted thereon approaches the end of its travel longitudinally with respect to the slot 16, the dolly 44 will engage the flange 68 and from that point the movement of the base 23 will be yieldably resisted by the spring 72 until such time as the flange 68 engages the adjacent bracket 67. At that time, the plunger 69 and roller 64 by the adjacent carn plate will have been cammed from engagement in the slot 16, freeing the base 23 and hobby horse thereon for rotation to a position where the hobby horse is to begin its return travel.

in addition to absorbing and yieldably resisting the movement of the base 23 and the hobby horse carried thereby when reaching either end of its path of travel with respect to the slot 16, the spring-powered bar 66 has, as the additional function, initially imparting return movement of the base 23 when such base reaches a position for return movement under the action of the traction wheel 35.

By this arrangement, when the motor is converted from its slow speed to its high speed, the base 23 will not suddenly begin a faster movement under the action of the traction wheel 35, but will smoothly accelerate, a necessary requirement both from the standpoint of safety of the rider and protection of operating parts of the apparatus.

I have found that by providing an arrangement such as just previously described for absorbing and resisting the impact which otherwise would take place between the base 23 and platform 10, and at the same time reducing the speed of rotation of the motor so that the base 23 will rotate at a slower speed, a smoother, safer and more enjoyable ride results.

The operation of my improved hobby horse ride may be thus stated:

When the motor 25 is operated, rotation will be imparted to the traction wheel 35 which, in cooperation with the rollers 48, will guide the hobby horse in its travel from one end of the slot 16 to the other. Upon approaching the terminus of the slot 16 located in the path of travel of the hobby horse, the plunger 60 and its roller 64 will contact the cam plate 17 and be moved clear of the slot 16. Also, the disc 63 will be moved from engagement with the switch 42, opening such switch to convert the motor 25 to its slow-speed operation. Also, in such approach to the terminus of slot 16, the dolly 44 will engage the bar 66 to place the movement of the hobby horse under restraint of the spring 72 so that 'when the motor 25 has been converted to its slow-speed operation, the hobby horse will at that time be free to rotate about the pivot shaft 43 carried by the dolly 44 to a position to start its return travel. Upon reaching such position, the plunger 60 and its roller 64 under action of the spring 60 will again engage in the slot 16, blocking further rotation of the hobby horse beyond the point where it commences its return travel under action of the traction wheel 35.

By converting the motor 25 to slow speed and by yieldably resisting movement of the hobby horse as it reaches either end of the slot, the hobby horse is prevented from rotating at a speed which might result in the hobby horse whipping around and unbalancing or frightening the rider, thus causing to fall oli the hobby horse. Such arrangement. also reduces wear upon the operating parts of the apparatus to a minimum.

I provide a hobby horse amusement ride which has a maximum degree. of. safety and amusement. The control of the hobby horse may be through any well-known coin-operated mechanism, in which mechanism there may be employed any well-known timing device to limit the duration of the ride.

It is intended that my hobby horse ride be placed in various public locations such as stores, parking lots, bus and railroad stations, arcades, lobbies, and the like.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An amusement ride comprising a relatively flat platform having an elongated slot formed therein in a longitudinal direction with respect to the long axis of said platform, a pedestal including a base and a rider support movable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to said platform and rotatable about a vertical axis at the ends of its longitudinal movement with respect to the platform, guide means having rollers engaging in said slot and a shaft extending upwardly through said slot and said base and providing a pivot about which said pedestal is adapted to rotate, means for moving said pedestal in said opposite longitudinal directions and cooperating with said shaft for rotating said pedestal about said shaft, means carried by said base and engaging said slot for limiting the degree of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, and means at opposite ends of said slot for camming said limiting means from engagement with said slot at the start of and during the period of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft.

2. An amusement ride comprising a relatively flat pla form having an elongated slot formed in a top wall thereof in a longitudinal direction with respect to the long axis of said platform, a pedestal including a base and a rider support movable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to said platform and rotatable about a vertical axis at the ends of its longitudinal movement with respect to the platform, a roller-bearing dolly beneath said platform with the rollers thereof engaging the bottom surface of said top wall, said dolly having other rollers engaging in said slot and a shaft carried by said dolly and extending upwardly through said slot and said base, spring means on said shaft for yieldably holding the firstrnentioned rollers of said dolly against said bottom surface of said platform, said shaft providing a pivot about which said pedestal is adapted to rotate, means for moving said pedestal in said opposite longitudinal directions and cooperating with said shaft for rotating said pedestal about said shaft, means carried by said base and engaging said slot for limiting the degree of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, means at opposite ends of said platform for yieldably arresting movement of said pedestal substantially at the point of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, and means at opposite ends of said slot for camming said limiting means from engagement with said slot at the start of and during the period of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft.

3. The amusement ridedefined by claim 1 characterized by the inclusion of means at opposite ends of said platform for yieldably arresting movement of said pedestal substantially at the point of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft.

4. The amusement ride defined by claim 2 in which said arresting means accelerates the return movement of 5 said pedestal at the end of its rotation to. said position for return movement in said longitudinal direction.

5. The amusement ride defined by claim 3 in. which said arresting means accelerates the return movement of said pedestal at the end of its rotation to said position for return movement in said longitudinal direction.

6. An amusement ride. comprising a relatively flat platform having an elongated slot formed therein in a longitudinal direction with respect to the long axis of said platform, a pedestal including a base and a rider support movable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to said platform and rotatable about a vertical axis at the ends of its longitudinal movement with respect to the plaform, guide means having rollers'engaging in said slot and a shaft extending upwardly through said slot and said base and providing a pivot about which said pedestal is adapted to rotate, a traction wheel carried by said base for moving said pedestal in said opposite longitudinal directions and cooperating with said shaft for rotating said pedestal about said shaft, means carried by said base and engaging said slot for limiting the degree of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, means at opposite ends of said slot for carnming said limiting means from engagement with said slot at the start of and during the period of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, a motor for said traction wheel having at least two different speeds, a power circuit for said motor including a switch for affecting the speed of said motor, said limiting means having a member adapted to actuate said switch to reduce the speed of said motor during the period of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft.

7. An amusement ride comprising a relatively flat platform having an elongated slot formed in a top wall thereof in a longitudinal direction with respect to the long axis of said platform, a pedestal including a base and a rider support movable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to said platform and rotatable about a vertical axis at the ends or" its longitudinal movement with respect to the platform, a roller-bearing dolly beneath said platform with the rollers thereof engaging the bottom surface of said top wall, said dolly having other rollers engaging in said slot and a shaft carried by said dolly and extending upwardly through said slot and said base, spring means on said shaft for yieldably holding the firstrnentioned rollers of said dolly against said bottom surface of said platform, said shaft providing a pivot about which said pedestal is adapted to rotate, a traction wheel for moving said pedestal in said opposite longitudinal directions and cooperating with said shaft for rotating said pedestal about said shaft, means carried by said base and engaging said slot for limiting the degree of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, means at opposite ends of said platform for yieldably arresting movement of said pedestal substantially at the point of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, means at opposite ends of said slot for camming said limiting means from engagement with said slot at the start of and during the period of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft, a motor for said traction wheel having at least two different speeds, a power circuit for said motor including a switch for affecting the speed of said motor, said limiting means having a member adapted to actuate said switch to reduce the speed of said motor during the period of rotation of said pedestal about said shaft.

8. The amusement ride as described by claim 7 in which said arresting means accelerates the return movement of said pedestal at the end of its rotation to said position for return movement in said longitudinal direction.

9. A device for resisting and accelerating the movement of a rider-supporting pedestal at the end of the longitudinal movement of said pedestal with respect to a plaform having a top wall providing a riding surface over which said pedestal is movable in opposite longitudinal posite end portion connected to said platform, said bar being movable against the action of said springmeans by said member to resist movement of said member in said direction, said spring means being adapted to accelerate 5 movement of said member in an opposite direction.

No references cited. 

